Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Pictures and Baptism....

The RevGalBlogPals have recently moved to a new site. As a part of the set up of that site they asked for pictures of women in ministry in action. And so I submitted this picture:

Of course there is always a story behind a picture. And now they are asking for those stories for the Wednesday Festival this week.

When you are clergy and you have children who baptizes them? I am not their Pastor, I am their father. So for Princess and Scalliwag we had colleagues come out to Atikokan for the baptism--colleagues who were at those times retained without appointment. On both those occasions all of their grandparents (and for Scalliwag also her great-grandfather) were able to be present.

Then came Monkey. There was someone we really wanted to officiate at her baptism (because said person was unable to officiate at our wedding as Beloved sorta kinda hoped). However said colleague was also in full-time ministry, which makes it more difficult for her to come to Atikokan. At the same time it was becoming more and more difficult for Beloved's mother to make that trip. So we came up with a rather unique solution.

Have the baptism at a Presbytery meeting.

We suggested this to some of the key people in Presbytery in the fall and there was great excitement. As the chair that year noted, as Protestants we recognize 2 sacraments but in our Presbytery meetings we are only able (generally speaking) to celebrate one of them. So we made plans. The Board in Atikokan agreed that Monkey could be baptized on their behalf at the February Presbytery meeting. Wonderful friend and colleague agreed (with very little pleading) to officiate, we planned the service and it was done. I led most of the service and wonderful friend and colleague did the baptism. Thanks again!!!!!

Oh and I was told by wonderful friend and colleague to include this piece:

Gord, be sure to mention that it is a highlight of my ministry. One of those Spirit-filled moments that always brings a smile.